TY - THES

T1 - THE AUTOMATION AND SEMI AUTONOMOUS BLASTHOLE DRILLING TECHNOLOGY FOR OPEN PIT MINES – STATE OF ART

AU - Strandberg, Joakim

N1 - embargoed until null

PY - 2010

Y1 - 2010

N2 - An investigation was carried out to determine the existing automation systems available on the market and the potential for automation system in the mining industry. Several factors were studied to establish a better picture of what is needed to operate in automation and semi autonomous mode. The final project was conducted to determine the market potential for automation systems. System specific data was collected and it was in general limited data available and limited to three manufactures Sandvik, Atlas Copco and Flanders Electric. The information found showed that the most frequently system used is the ARDVARC™ automation system by Flanders Electric. General opinion from Freeport Mcmoran’s mine site in Safford Arizona, USA is that the automation system has increased their productivity and has made their fragmentation process more accurate since hole data is exported on real time basis. With information from each drill hole, blasting can be optimized according to required fragmentation. The automation systems in open pit mining has until today been used on a limited basis. Reasons have been several but one is the lack of technology and interest from the major global mining companies. This behaviour has changed due to lack of skilled operators in remote areas of the world and major players to optimize their production. At present there is a limited amount of feedback and field testing that mining companies can use as a reference but that is growing constantly. Demand from major mining companies should have an impact on the automation systems since they need to be on board and develop this with the manufacturers. The field testing in several mine sites should make it easier to develop the automation feature and take this one step further.

AB - An investigation was carried out to determine the existing automation systems available on the market and the potential for automation system in the mining industry. Several factors were studied to establish a better picture of what is needed to operate in automation and semi autonomous mode. The final project was conducted to determine the market potential for automation systems. System specific data was collected and it was in general limited data available and limited to three manufactures Sandvik, Atlas Copco and Flanders Electric. The information found showed that the most frequently system used is the ARDVARC™ automation system by Flanders Electric. General opinion from Freeport Mcmoran’s mine site in Safford Arizona, USA is that the automation system has increased their productivity and has made their fragmentation process more accurate since hole data is exported on real time basis. With information from each drill hole, blasting can be optimized according to required fragmentation. The automation systems in open pit mining has until today been used on a limited basis. Reasons have been several but one is the lack of technology and interest from the major global mining companies. This behaviour has changed due to lack of skilled operators in remote areas of the world and major players to optimize their production. At present there is a limited amount of feedback and field testing that mining companies can use as a reference but that is growing constantly. Demand from major mining companies should have an impact on the automation systems since they need to be on board and develop this with the manufacturers. The field testing in several mine sites should make it easier to develop the automation feature and take this one step further.

M3 - Master's Thesis (University Course)

ER -